If there’s one thing we know, it’s that kids love to get messy. As soon as they step outside, you can bet they’re going to be playing in the dirt. But kids will be kids and instead of stressing over it, enjoy it while they’re still young! Take full advantage of your kids’ love for the outdoors by building a fun outdoor mud kitchen!

Part playhouse, part outdoor cooking area, a mud kitchen not only allows them to have fun and be creative (mud pie, anyone?), it also offers learning opportunities to them such as sensory, imaginative and exploratory play. They’re able to connect with nature while enhancing their confidence and collaboration. Here are 5 steps to building a fun outdoor mud kitchen for your kids.

Step 1: Designing the Mud Kitchen

There are a number of different ways to go about building a mud kitchen in your backyard. The first option is using wood pallets, logs or timber to DIY a kids’ kitchen. You can also use old furniture you may have around your house or in storage. Transform old dressers and drawers into storage for the mud kitchen so your kids have a place to keep all their utensils.

Step 2: Collect Old Kitchen Utensils

Search your cupboards and pantry to find old pots, pans, strainers, muffin tins, pie pans, measuring cups, wooden spoons and any other kitchen utensils you don’t use anymore. Look for anything that could be used to make mud pies, mud meatballs, mud muffins, and to store mud pudding.

These old utensils will stock the mud kitchen, allowing your kids to get creative with their mud masterpieces. There are also affordable cookware sets you can find if you don’t have any old utensils to use.

Step 3: Create a Sink

A sink is a key part of any kitchen, especially a backyard mud kitchen! Not everyone has an old sink laying around. If you do, place it into hollow wood openings in your mud kitchen. If you don’t, you can easily create a sink with bins from IKEA or Walmart. Fill it with water so your kids can wash their muddy utensils and hands after they’re done making their mud pies!

Step 4: Stock Up on Mud

The number 1 ingredient you need for a mud kitchen is, of course, the mud. You don’t need to go tearing apart your backyard to get mud for the kitchen. Instead, use bagged top soil, gravel, sand compost and water to create mud in different consistencies.

Your kids will be able to make their own mud in a range of colours and textures- how great is that! You can even create a sand pit so your kids can easily access the mud when they need it. Just make sure whatever you’re using isn’t contaminated with animal feces as this can lead to health problems.

Step 5: The Right Time and Place for a Mud Kitchen

Summer is the ideal time to create a mud kitchen for your kids, but they can enjoy it all year round with waterproof and warm clothing. As for where to place your mud kitchen, it can be set up anywhere outdoors!

Help define the kitchen area by placing it near walls, hedges or fences. And don’t worry about placing it close to a water source. Let your kids have fun filling and transporting containers of water when they need them.

An outdoor mud kitchen is one of the best ways for your kids to get creative and connect with Mother Nature. Follow these steps to create the mud kitchen of their dreams!